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IT professionals, especially ones that deal directly with clients, need to maintain an air of competence at all times in their IT jobs.  Because computers, phones, and the internet have become so imperative to most companies’ operations, information technology requires highly competent individuals.  There are plenty of ways to do this, but one of the best is for IT contractors to cleanse their vocabulary of some particular words when speaking to IT managers, IT recruiters, their IT consultants coworkers, and clients.  These words will all undercut your confidence and the confidence of the people you’re speaking in you.

1. Partial time words like ‘usually’ or ‘often’: These words leave room for sometimes.  As in, sometimes I’m wrong.  Don’t leave that room if you can help it, because it’s better to leave the person you’re speaking to with the impression that you’re ‘always’ correct.
2. Negative emotional words like ‘feel,’ or ‘concerned’ or ‘worried.’  At work, it’s better to leave obviously emotional words or statements to the side.  They give people a negative impression of your competence and sometimes they even make them uncomfortable.  Better to just state what’s going on, just the facts.  Your emotional reactions shouldn’t be part of the conversation.
3. Noncommital words like ‘might,’ ‘likely,’ or ‘probably.’  There are times when these words have to be used, but as a rule, just don’t do it.  The employee everyone loves to work with and for is the one who has all the answers and can give them quickly and confidently.  When you add in these words, you waste time and look less than sure.  Leave them out unless you absolutely have to use them.